Automobile exhaust gas cleaner

Abstract

A cleaning system for automobile exhaust gases has a perforated inlet allowing the gases to enter a sump area containing liquid for washing the gases. Nozzles spray cleaning liquid onto the washed gases passing through gas-permeable baffle plates, the cleaning liquid dropping into the sump area below. The cleaning liquid then passes to a tank for separating out pollutants and the gases pass to a second chamber for spray washing while passing through a further series of gas-permeable baffle plates. The cleaned gases are filtered in a separator box before passing into the atmosphere. Crankcase vapors may also be added into the stream of exhaust gases and cleaned in the system of the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaner for exhaust gas comprising: first and second perforated baffle means supported in respective first and second perforated baffle means supported in respective first and second housings, said first housing having an exhaust gas inlet, said second housing having an exhaust gas outlet, and said first housing being situated below said second housing and connected thereto to permit the flow of exhaust gas upwardly from said first housing to said second housing,   first spray means for spraying cleaning liquid onto said first perforated baffle means and for permitting the gas to permeate therethrough and then to flow downwardly around means for deflecting the gas before moving upwardly to said second housing, said sprayed liquid falling downwardly into sump means for receiving said sprayed liquid,   second spray means for spraying cleaning liquid onto said second perforated baffle means and for permitting the gas to permeate therethrough, said sprayed liquid falling downwardly into said sump means,   filtered separator box means adjacent said second baffle means for filtering pollutants from said exhaust gas,   wherein said exhaust gas is conducted through said first perforated baffle mans while being sprayed with cleaning liquid from said first spray means then conducted upwardly, next conducted through said second perforated baffle means while being sprayed with cleaning liquid from said second spray means, and immediately conducted through said filtered separator box, and out into the atmosphere,   whereby pollutants are removed from said exhaust gas.   
     
     
       2. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 1 further comprising tank means connected to the sump means, for collecting pollutants from liquid collected in the sump means, 
     
     
       3. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 1 further comprising means for mixing vapor from a crankcase with said exhaust gas before cleaning. 
     
     
       4. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 3 wherein said means for mixing comprises pressure means for conducting said vapor from the crankcase and temperature control means for conducting a greater volume of vapor when the temperature of said crankcase increases. 
     
     
       5. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 3 further comprising condenser means prior to said first housing for condensing pollutants from said crankcase vapor. 
     
     
       6. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 1 further comprising perforated inlet means for said exhaust gas whereby said exhaust gas passes through liquid in said sump means before passing through said first baffle means. 
     
     
       7. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 1 further comprising outlet means for removing pollutants from said sump means. 
     
     
       8. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 2 further comprising outlet means for removing pollutants from said tank means. 
     
     
       9. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 2 wherein said tank means further comprises baffle means. 
     
     
       10. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 9 wherein the baffle means are imperforate. 
     
     
       11. An exhaust gas cleaner of claim 3 wherein the exhaust gas and the crankcase vapor are admixed before passing through said first baffle means. 
     
     
       12. A cleaner for exhaust gas comprising: means for conducting exhaust gas to a housing for first perforated baffle means,   tank means for storing cleaning liquids,   first pipe means for transporting cleaning liquid from said tank means to first spray means,   first spray means for spraying cleaning liquid onto first perforated baffle means for permitting said gas to permeate therethrough, said sprayed liquid dropping by gravity into sump means for receiving said sprayed liquid,   plate means connected to the housing for conducting said gas downwardly and then upwardly for further cleaning,   second pipe means for transporting cleaning liquid upwardly to second spray means,   second spray means positioned above said first spray means for spraying cleaning liquid onto said second perforated baffle means for permitting gas to permeate therethrough, said sprayed liquid dropping by gravity into said sump means,   filtered separator box means adjacent said second baffle means for filtering pollutants from said exhaust gas,   tank means connected to the sump means, for removing pollutants from liquid collected in the sump means,   wherein said exhaust gas is conducted through said first perforated baffle means while being sprayed with cleaning liquid from said first spray means, then conducted downwardly around said plate means, and immediately upwardly to pass through said second perforated baffle means while being sprayed with cleaning liquid from said second spray means, through said filtered separator box, and out into the atmosphere,   whereby pollutants are removed from said exhaust gas.